October 2025 ISSUE

SPP presents this monthly newsletter compiling timely, useful information related to Markets+ development. Have questions or comments? Email marketsplus@spp.org. We’d love to hear from you.

Phase two update

The Sept. 1 deadline for balancing authorities (BAs) to declare their intent for the October 2027 market launch has passed, and the BAs moving forward include Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power, Powerex and Public Service Company of Colorado.

In related news, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) recently confirmed its commitment to join the secondary market launch in October 2028. Four other BAs in the Pacific Northwest will launch alongside BPA.

The deadline for non-BA transmission service providers is Oct. 1, and market participants have until Dec. 1 to submit their participation registration surveys if they haven't done so yet. You can find these deadlines posted on the Markets+ page.

Network modeling underway

Markets+ modeling efforts are underway. After the August Markets+ Change User Forum (MCUF) meeting, SPP distributed the Markets+ registration workbooks to collect network and modeling information from go-live participants. We started with BA information and will follow up with questions and feedback by Oct. 10.

At the Oct. 7 MCUF, SPP staff will outline the complete submission timeline for remaining workbook tabs, both for BAs and other market participants. We expect all submissions to be finalized by Jan. 15, 2026.

Coordinated outreach continues

We're working closely with the BAs planning to launch in October 2027 to coordinate outreach for embedded entity participation in Markets+. This collaborative approach is helping us build the strongest possible foundation for launch.

For more information on outreach efforts, please subscribe to the MCUF exploder list through your spp.org account and register for the Oct. 7 MCUF meeting.

Markets+ protocol development

The following items will be under review and/or approval by the Markets+ Design Working Group (MDWG) this month:

• Remaining GHG protocols, subject to approval by the Markets+ Greenhous Gas Task Force Oct. 8
• Market transfer interface protocols

SPP is beginning the holistic review process for the Markets+ protocols package this month. An additional MDWG meeting is scheduled for Oct. 30-31 to begin reviewing staff's work.

November MPEC meeting detail changes

The November Markets+ Participant Executive Committee (MPEC) meeting details have been adjusted by one day to make travel easier around Veterans Day. The meeting is now Thursday, Nov. 13, at the SRP PERA Club in Tempe, Arizona.

Updated schedule: Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT. We'll provide breakfast and lunch during the meeting.

You can register on the SPP website at the link below. The in-person registration deadline is Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. CT.

spp.org/calendar-list/marketsplus-participant-executive-committee-meeting-20251113/

Upcoming stakeholder training

Level 1: Power Up - An Introduction to Markets+

This virtual instructor-led course introduces the fundamentals of energy markets—defining what they are, the key roles in Markets+, and the primary components that drive them. The next session will be held Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. CT.

Level 1.5: Micro-Modules

Keep your Markets+ learning momentum going with bite-sized, stakeholder-driven modules designed to bridge the gap between Levels 1 and 2. The first release, Congestion Rent 101: Making Sense of the Markets+ “Toll Booth,” is now live in the SPP Learning Center. Stay tuned for the next podcast on Electric Storage Resources and Hybrid Storage Market Resources.

Level 2: Topic Specific Training

July 13–16, 2026 | Aug. 17–20, 2026 | Sept. 21–24, 2026

Level 2 takes your Markets+ knowledge to the next level with targeted training on core functions, market rules and operational considerations. Discover how key processes work together to drive market outcomes. Registration opens Jan. 14, 2026, in the Learning Center.

On-Demand Self-Study Courses

Explore self-paced courses in the Learning Center that cover Integrated Marketplace concepts, which can provide understanding of SPP’s market design, the foundation for Markets+. 

Log into your SPP Learning Center account to register for upcoming training, self-study courses, access recordings and more.